There are two drugs that have become buzz words when talking about drugs available on the streets.

In Indiana there were 2,089 deaths due to all drugs. In Washington County, there were six total drug deaths (five of these from opioids) in 2023, up from the four deaths in 2016.  

One drug that is most familiar is Fentanyl, which is a Schedule 2 controlled substance and is a synthetic opioid. It is similar to morphine, but 100 times more potent.

Opioids are any drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain. They may be natural or synthetic and include such drugs as Fentanyl, heroin, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet and Nitazene. They slow the body down too much sometimes.

Fentanyl does have legal medical use when prescribed to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. What’s the problem with Fentanyl? None, if created in laboratory-controlled environment.

Since Fentanyl can easily be made in a lab and can be smuggled into our country from Mexico, it is readily available. Much of this illegally manufactured drug is not controlled, and usually it is unknown how much of it may be lethal. There’s no quality control or oversight.

Due to Fentanyl’s ability to produce the effect of analgesia (the absence of pain) or euphoria, it is often mixed with other illicit drugs to increase the effects of those drugs. These drugs include heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. These mixtures increase the likelihood of a fatal interaction.
When the illegal labs produce Fentanyl, it is not an exact science. Two milligrams of Fentanyl can be lethal depending on the user’s body weight, tolerance and past use.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) analysis has found that .02 to 5.1 milligrams of Fentanyl, twice the lethal dose, can be found in an illegal Fentanyl tablet. Taking these illegal pills is sort of like playing Russia roulette with your life. There is no way of knowing if the pill contains Fentanyl, how much or none at all.

The DEA states that drug trafficking organizations typically distribute Fentanyl by the kilogram. One kilogram is equal to 2.2 lbs. This could kill 500,00 people.  Estimated deaths just from Fentanyl in 2023 were 74,700.

The newest drug on the block appearing in some areas is Nitazene, which has been discovered in central Indiana. The coroner in Hamilton County has called it “The Frankenstein drug,” because of its potency. It has also been discovered in Ottawa, Canada.

This fine cocktail of poison was discovered in the 1950s as a potential replacement for morphine. Nitazene is a Level One controlled substance. Due to its strength, it was never released by United States Food and Drug Administration. Nitazene is 50% stronger than Fentanyl.

Nitazene may be identified as white tablets with three sides and labeled with an “M” and “8”.  

How to tell if a person may be having an opiod overdose? Symptoms may include the following:
Loss of consciousness or body going limp.
Choking.
Heartbeat may be slowed or has stopped.
The face may lose color and feel cool or clammy to the touch.
“Pinpoint” pupils.
The victim may be non-responsive.
Extremities like fingertips and lips may have a blue tinge.
Breathing may become slowed, erratic or cease altogether.
The person may develop a gurgling or deep snoring sounds.

Sometimes the affect of opiod drugs can be temporarily reversed with Naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan. Additional doses of Naloxone maybe necessary to offset overdose.

If a person is displaying signs of overdose, call 9-1-1, administer Narcan (Naloxone), and administer breathing resuscitation if the person has stopped breathing or is struggling to breathe.

A box that dispenses Narcan can be found in Washington County at LifeSpring Health Systems at 1321 Jackson St., Salem. The drug is free with no contact needed.

Narcan is also available at Washington Co. Health Department, where you will receive a 15-minute training session. It is made available from a state grant, so you must also sign a paper, according to Alicia Thompson.

Information for this article was obtain through the Drug Enforcement Administration websites and LifeSpring Health Systems.